{"id":34392,"date":"2026-08-09T10:49:58","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T05:49:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=34392"},"modified":"2026-08-09T10:49:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T05:49:58","slug":"82-lawsuits-saved-207-billion-for-california-bonta-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=34392","title":{"rendered":"82 lawsuits saved $207 billion for California, Bonta says"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/2851e16\/2147483647\/strip\/false\/crop\/6431x4289+0+0\/resize\/1500x1000!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff6%2F2e%2F15d256864705bce1407281fc5c52%2F1543075-pol-cadem-2026-01897cc.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<div data-element=\"story-body\" data-subscriber-content=\"\">\n<p>California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said Tuesday that his office has protected more than $200 billion in federal funding for the state, defended <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/politics\/story\/2026-06-30\/supreme-court-rejects-trumps-plan-to-limit-birthright-citizenship\">core civil rights<\/a> and removed military forces <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/politics\/story\/2025-12-31\/trump-administration-retreats-in-newsom-lawsuit-over-national-guard-deployment\">from Los Angeles streets<\/a> by suing the Trump administration about once a week.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince President Trump returned to office, California has been <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/politics\/story\/2025-07-20\/six-months-into-trumps-second-term-california-is-a-key-battleground\">under attack<\/a> \u2014 and has led the way in fighting back,\u201d Bonta said.<\/p>\n<p>Bonta said his office has filed 82 lawsuits against the administration since Trump\u2019s inauguration last year, in addition to 122 amicus briefs supporting lawsuits against the administration by other parties and 112 comment letters in response to federal actions.<\/p>\n<p>That work has saved the state an estimated $207.1 billion, Bonta said, including $168 billion \u2014 equal to a third of the state\u2019s annual budget \u2014 that was threatened when <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/politics\/story\/2025-02-16\/california-officials-detail-trump-funding-freeze-chaos-warn-another-could-cripple-state\">the Trump administration tried to freeze trillions<\/a> of dollars in federal funding to the states last year. Billions in threatened cuts to transportation, emergency preparedness, education and family assistance funding were also prevented, Bonta said.<\/p>\n<p>The work has also protected birthright citizenship for the U.S.-born children of immigrants, ensured that National Guard troops are not deployed in major California cities against the wishes of local leaders, lifted multiple sets of tariffs driving up costs for American consumers and repeatedly blocked administration efforts to interfere in <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/politics\/story\/2026-02-08\/midterms-trump-california-war-over-next-election\">California\u2019s elections<\/a>, Bonta said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve protected funding that keeps our communities safe, feeds hungry families, and ensures our kids get the education they deserve. We\u2019ve gone all the way to the Supreme Court to defend constitutional rights \u2014 and won. We\u2019ve protected our elections and stopped the militarization of our cities. We\u2019ve defended our right to prioritize public safety over assisting with the President\u2019s inhumane <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2026-07-28\/immigration-enforcement-report-latinos-impacted\">immigration agenda<\/a>,\u201d Bonta said.<\/p>\n<p>As it has done in the past, the White House on Tuesday derided Bonta\u2019s lawsuits as misguided.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cInstead of bragging about filing frivolous lawsuits against the Trump Administration, the California AG should focus on addressing problems in his own state \u2014 like the countless criminal illegal aliens the Newscum Administration allows to roam free and terrorize communities,\u201d said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson in a statement to The Times.<\/p>\n<p>The White House has previously said that Trump is \u201ctrying to restore American Greatness\u201d and that Californians would be \u201cinfinitely better off\u201d if Bonta got out of the president\u2019s way.<\/p>\n<p>Bonta\u2019s office is required to report annually to the state Legislature on its work fighting the Trump administration as part of a 2025 special session measure delivering it <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2025-02-03\/newsom-special-session-california-lawmakers-approve-50-million-for-lawsuits-against-trump\">an extra $25 million<\/a> to fund such litigation. His office published its latest report to lawmakers Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>The report said the office had received $19.2 million of the special session funding through July 30, which had \u201ccontributed to \u2014 but in no way has been sufficient to cover \u2014 the costs of the litigation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bonta\u2019s office has also received regular appropriations to fund such litigation in each of the state\u2019s last two budgets, of $14.2 million last fiscal year and $23.9 million this fiscal year. The office\u2019s overall budget is about $1.4 billion.<\/p>\n<p>At a morning news conference with other state leaders, Bonta said his office has spent close to $30 million on its \u201cfederal accountability work\u201d overall since Trump took office, and argued that investment has been \u201cpaying off in droves\u201d given the billions saved.<\/p>\n<p>State Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Lim\u00f3n (D-Goleta) and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), standing with Bonta, agreed.<\/p>\n<p>Lim\u00f3n said she was proud to have worked with Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom to form a \u201ccollective backstop\u201d against the Trump administration, while Rivas said the funding provided to Bonta\u2019s office \u201cmay be one of the smartest investments that this Legislature has ever made.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Of the 82 lawsuits, 66 remain active, according to the report. Despite that, Bonta said, his office has won 45 orders providing some early relief from the Trump administration\u2019s actions, and 21 final orders in its favor. In eight cases, he said, the administration \u201cbacked down\u201d in advance of a trial.<\/p>\n<p>Bonta\u2019s office has lost arguments made against the Trump administration, including on behalf of other litigants, particularly on issues related to <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/politics\/story\/2026-06-30\/supreme-court-rules-states-may-ban-trans-athletes-from-girls-sports-teams\">transgender rights<\/a> and the scope of Trump\u2019s executive power to <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/politics\/story\/2026-06-29\/supreme-court-hands-trump-split-decision-on-firing-heads-of-independent-agencies\">reshape government<\/a> and federal <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/politics\/story\/2026-06-25\/supreme-court-rules-trump-may-end-legal-protection-for-haitians-syrians\">immigration policy<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>However, Bonta claimed his office has won in 83% of the court orders issued in cases brought by the state and praised his team for having \u201c<a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/politics\/story\/2025-03-31\/california-legal-fight-stop-trump-attorneys\">worked around the clock<\/a> on behalf of Californians, pulling countless all-nighters along the way\u201d to make it possible.<\/p>\n<p>Bonta, who is <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2026-01-11\/california-atty-gen-rob-bonta-not-running-governor\">up for reelection<\/a> in November, is campaigning in part on his willingness to stand up to Trump \u2014 which polling <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2025-11-05\/prop-50-california-special-election-newsom-trump-analysis\">and voting<\/a> has suggested many Californians want their <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2024-10-11\/california-voters-poll-schiff-garvey-senate-race\">elected officials<\/a> to do.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2026-04-27\/becerras-surge-california-governor-race-draws-attention-to-candidacy-long-government-record\">Xavier Becerra<\/a>, the Democratic candidate for California governor, is running on a similar message. Before he was the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, Becerra had Bonta\u2019s job and sued the first Trump administration <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2020-08-28\/california-100-lawsuits-trump-administration\">more than 120 times<\/a>, often successfully.<\/p>\n<p>Bonta said he expects Becerra will be an \u201cincredible partner\u201d in the fight moving forward.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2026-01-14\/newsom-critic-former-huntington-beach-city-attorney-to-run-for-state-attorney-general\">Michael Gates<\/a>, who is running against Bonta, and <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2026-07-22\/gop-gubernatorial-candidate-steve-hilton-pleads-case-to-anti-trump-voters\">Steve Hilton<\/a>, who is running against Becerra and is endorsed by Trump, have said they would work collaboratively with the Trump administration to ensure the needs of Californians are met, rather than fighting it at every turn.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would be wanting to work with the administration to help Californians,\u201d <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2026-04-09\/revolution-or-chaos-massive-stakes-if-republican-becomes-california-governor\">Hilton has said<\/a>. Gates has called Bonta\u2019s campaign against Trump <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2026-05-01\/2026-california-election-attorney-general-bonta-gates-voter-guide\">\u201cout of touch.\u201d<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>Many of the lawsuits Bonta\u2019s office has brought against the administration have been filed as part of a multistate coalition of Democratic attorneys general. As presidents of both parties have flexed more <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/politics\/story\/2025-07-17\/supreme-court-rulings-trump-executive-power\">executive power<\/a> in recent decades, state attorneys general have become more collaborative and litigious in fighting back \u2014 and that has been especially true under Trump.<\/p>\n<p>Bonta said Trump will be remembered in part for his \u201crepeated attacks on California, on Californians, on our Constitution, and on our democracy,\u201d but California will be remembered for fighting back. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAre these trying times? 100%. Absolutely, yes,\u201d Bonta said. \u201cBut we shouldn\u2019t be helpless, because we\u2019re not helpless.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said Tuesday that his office has protected more than $200 billion in federal funding for the state, defended core civil rights and removed military forces from Los Angeles streets by suing the Trump administration about once a week. \u201cSince President Trump returned to office, California has been under attack \u2014&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34393,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/768dd33\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6431x3376+0+456\/resize\/1200x630!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff6%2F2e%2F15d256864705bce1407281fc5c52%2F1543075-pol-cadem-2026-01897cc.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34392","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34392","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=34392"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34392\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/34393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=34392"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=34392"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=34392"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}